Child travel requirements vary by custody and journey
Not every trip has the same requirement. Custody status, destination country, airline and border authority can affect the documents requested. A notarized consent is a strong way to evidence written consent when it is required or prudent.
Under the current UAE Personal Status Law, travel of a child in custody outside the State is governed by Article 116 of Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024. A parent custodian may travel with the child with the written consent of the other parent, or with court permission where consent is unavailable. Different conditions apply to a non-parent custodian, and the court may authorise travel subject to conditions or guarantees.
When Is a Child Travel Consent POA Required?
- Child travelling with mother only — check the applicable consent requirement based on custody status, Article 116, and the destination, airline and border requirements.
- Child travelling with father only — check the applicable consent requirement based on custody status, Article 116, and the destination, airline and border requirements.
- Divorced parents — carry the applicable custody order and check whether written consent, court permission or another supporting document is required for the journey.
- Child travelling alone or with a school group → confirm the written consent or POA required from the parent(s) or guardian(s) under the custody position and destination requirements.
- Child holding a different nationality/passport from the traveling parent
Child Traveling With One Parent — Check the Required Consent
- Child travelling with mother only → where the mother is the custodial parent, written approval of the other parent may be required under Article 116 unless the court authorises travel or the applicable custody position provides otherwise.
- Child travelling with father only → where the father is the custodial parent, written approval of the other parent may be required under Article 116 unless the court authorises travel or the applicable custody position provides otherwise.
- If parents are divorced → check the custody judgment and confirm whether written consent or court permission is required for the intended journey.
- If one parent is deceased → death certificate plus evidence of the applicable custody or guardianship authority; the exact document depends on the legal position.
- Attestation requirements depend on where the document will be used, the destination, and the requirements of the airline, border authority, embassy or other receiving authority
Child Traveling With Third Party — Stricter Requirements
- Child travelling with a grandparent or relative → confirm the written consent or POA required from the parent(s) or guardian(s) under the custody position and destination requirements; consent from both parents may be requested in some cases.
- Child travelling with a teacher or other non-relative → confirm the required parent/guardian consent and any additional travel, medical or emergency authority.
- School trip abroad → check the school, airline, border and destination requirements for parent/guardian consent and accompanying-person authority.
- Destination country may require additional forms — check embassy requirements
- Airlines may request documents at check-in — carry originals, not just copies
Child Travel Consent Rules Depend on Custody and Destination
Consent requirements for a travelling child depend on custody status, the people travelling and the requirements of the destination country. Always check the destination country's requirements. The consent POA should specify: the child's full name and passport number, destination countries, travel dates, and the traveling parent or guardian's details.
Documents Required for a Child Travel Authorization
- Child's valid passport (original + copy) and UAE ID if available
- Attested birth certificate (with certified Arabic translation if issued abroad)
- Emirates ID and passport of the consenting parent (person granting permission)
- Marriage certificate or divorce decree — to establish custody and legal relationship
- For divorced parents: custody judgment from UAE court or recognized foreign court
- Passport of the accompanying person (if child travels with non-parent)
- Attestation where required — requirements depend on where the document will be used, the destination and the receiving authority
Travel Consent Letter — Simple Authorization
- Authorizes travel for a specific trip or time period only
- No broader legal powers granted — only travel permission
- Suitable for: child traveling abroad for a holiday with one parent
- Simpler to draft and notarize — lower cost
- Designed to evidence travel consent for the intended journey; attestation or additional documentation may be required by the destination or receiving authority.
Child Travel POA — Broader Legal Authority
- Grants the accompanying person legal authority to make decisions for the child
- Can include: medical decisions, education, emergency legal representation
- Suitable for: extended stay, school year abroad, or long-term care by relative
- More comprehensive — may be appropriate where specified authority beyond travel permission is needed and can lawfully be delegated.
- May be considered for longer or more complex travel where additional delegated authority is genuinely needed.
I, the undersigned, [Full Name of Consenting Parent], nationality: [Nationality], Emirates ID No.: [XXXXXXX], Passport No.: [XXXXXXX], hereby give my explicit and full consent for my child: [Full Name of Child], date of birth: [DD/MM/YYYY], Passport No.: [XXXXXXX], to travel internationally in the company of [Full Name of Accompanying Person], nationality: [Nationality], Passport No.: [XXXXXXX], relationship to child: [Relationship]. This travel consent covers travel to [Destination Country/Countries] for the period from [Date] to [Date], or for a period not exceeding [Duration]. The accompanying person is authorized to: accompany the child, handle travel-related documentation, and handle the specified travel-related documentation and emergency matters within the authority granted. This consent is issued through the competent UAE channel in the remote live notary/video process we coordinate and is valid for the stated travel period unless revoked earlier.
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From Our Drafting Practice: What a Travel Consent Contains
- The consenting parent's identification and the capacity line establishing guardianship
- Each child identified individually — name, date of birth, passport number — no group phrasing that immigration counters question
- The accompanying adult, the destination(s) and the travel window — drafted specific or open per your instruction
- Route-appropriate drafting that states the child, accompanying person, destination and travel scope clearly for the intended use.
- Bilingual Arabic-English drafting where appropriate to reduce translation friction; a receiving authority may still require a particular translation or document format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Arabic or a certified Arabic translation may be required for UAE notarization or submission to an authority that requires Arabic. We prepare the consent bilingually in Arabic and English where appropriate for the intended use.
No. For the remote route we coordinate, the consenting person completes the applicable live notary/video process through the competent UAE channel. The identity documents required depend on that official route.
The required consent depends on custody, the person travelling with the child and any existing court order. Under Article 116 of Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024, a custodial parent travelling outside the UAE with the child generally requires the written approval of the other parent, or court permission where applicable. Different rules apply to a non-parent custodian. Check the custody judgment and the destination/airline requirements before travel.
Where a parent is deceased, the required consent or authority depends on the child's custody and legal guardianship position. Article 116 specifically addresses the relevant guardianship authority in the circumstances covered by the law. Before drafting the travel consent, we check the death certificate and the documents showing who has legal authority to consent to the child's travel.
Attestation requirements depend on where the document will be used, the destination, and the requirements of the airline, border authority, embassy or other receiving authority. Where attestation is required for international use, the chain is: (1) Notarize with a UAE Notary Public; (2) Attest with UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA); (3) Some countries also require their embassy's attestation. For travel within the UAE (domestic travel): MOFA attestation is not required. We handle the full attestation process on your behalf.
The consent should state the travel dates or intended validity period. Destination countries, airlines and border authorities may apply their own recency or validity requirements, so confirm those requirements before travel and issue the document close enough to the intended journey where appropriate.
Not every trip has the same requirement. The legal/custody position, destination country, airline and border authority can affect the documents requested. Under Article 116 of the current UAE Personal Status Law, written consent or court permission can be relevant to travel of a child in custody. A notarized consent is a strong document when written consent needs to be proved.
Usually include the child’s full identity/passport details, the consenting parent(s), the accompanying person, destination, travel dates, purpose where useful and emergency contact details. The exact wording should reflect the custody/travel situation.
For the remote notary route we coordinate, yes. The consenting parent completes the live video notary appointment through the competent UAE channel, identity and consent are verified and the document is issued electronically.
Do not replace a required consent with a private letter if there is a custody dispute. Article 116 allows the competent court to authorise travel in applicable cases and to impose guarantees or conditions for the child’s return.
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